Nuclear Science

Isotope Enrichment

Modern electromagnetic isotope separator developed and being scaled-up to replace the Manhattan Project-era Calutrons used for stable isotope enrichment.

Since 1945, ORNL has been a major world supplier of enriched stable isotopes. While U.S consumers are currently relying on inventories of stable isotopes produced prior to 1998 in the ORNL Calutrons, or on foreign sources; a domestic stable isotope enrichment capability is currently being reestablished at ORNL.